Remco Evenepoel finds lifeline in Islamic rituals with his wife during hard times: "Praying is something very unique that we share together"
Cycling
After a great period in the middle of 2024 season, things went sideways for Remco Evenepoel past winter. But the Olympic champion pulled through the hardships and now is ready to finally write down his first start of 2025 - at Brabantse Pijl.
"We have prayed together often and will continue to do so, that is also something wonderful that you have taught me. It is wonderful to share that with you," wrote Remco Evenepoel earlier this week in an extensive and emotional message on Instagram. It should therefore come as no surprise that it was discussed again at the press conference for the Brabantse Pijl today.
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"This past year I really got to know that - it's something I share with Oumi," Evenepoel replied. "For me it's a lifeline to get through life. It's a beautiful thing. Oumi and I prayed a lot and that was a lifeline during a difficult time."
Evenepoel shares certain values and rituals from Islam with Oumi, things that he personally benefits from. This was already visible in images of the wedding party, which was also accompanied by a so-called Henna Day. That's the Moroccan bachelor party, so to speak.
In an exclusive interview with VTM NIEUWS, Evenepoel elaborated on this a bit more. "Praying is something very unique that we share together. It’s just a very nice moment together. It also ensures that you get a certain calmness about yourself, that you can accept things more easily. That has all ensured that I have become calmer inside. That I have started to deal with everything a bit more calmly, after a rather stormy period."
"I get extra strength and motivation from it. Asking for certain wishes, for example, and just making sure that everything remains stable. A nice support to have throughout the day."
Does Evenepoel want to convert too? "That hasn't been discussed yet. It's just something fun that we do at home. A nice thing that we share together."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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